A well trained dog is a joy to be around. Beyond being well
socialized, trained dogs are less likely to jump up on people,
and are less at risk of biting someone. They also tend to stay
calm in distracting environments.
Also, well trained dogs are more likely to stay with the same
owner, as opposed to being abandoned to the pound. One research
report from the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical
Association found that 96% of shelter dogs had never had any
training.
Training your dog helps to teach them boundaries, thus making
them more comfortable around humans. There are many different
dog training programs and many professional dog trainers.
However, just because someone has a business card doesn't
mean they are a qualified trainer.
To find a good trainer, ask your friends and family if they
know a good trainer. Also, while walking your dog at the dog
park, ask other dog owners who they recommend. Once you have
found a trainer, ask them what method of training they teach.
There have been dozens of different training methods for dogs
that have been in and out of fashion over the years. Ask the
trainer what method they use, why they use it, and what the
benefits of it are. Also ask for references.
Whether you train your dog yourself or find a professional,
teaching your dog commands and socializing it is important.
Areas to cover in training include:
1. Socializing to strangers: This is easy to accomplish while
out walking your dog around the neighborhood and introducing
them to people.
2. Socializing with other dogs: You can do this at dog parks,
or even better in a dog training class.
3. Leash walking at a steady pace: You can start this training
as soon as you get your new dog.
4. Crate training: This is important, especially to build up
a tolerance to stay in a kennel environment for several hours.
5. The sit command: This is usually the first command new owners
teach their dog.
6. The down/stand command: These commands help develop boundaries
for the dog.
7. The stay command: This command is important for your dog to
master, especially in an environment with a lot of distractions.
There are many benefits to having a well trained dog. But it
doesn't necessarily mean the dog will not develop behavioral
problems down the road, like separation anxiety. Simply put a
well trained dog is a joy to be around and strengthens the
human-animal bond.
